RECENT POLICE RAIDS ON BELGIUM’S Catholic Church during a child abuse investigation have been ruled illegal by a Belgian court. The court ruled that documents seized in the raids cannot be used by prosecutors as evidence.

In June, police raided the headquarters of the church in Belgium, and searched the tombs of two Catholic cardinals after allegations that files concerning the cover-up of sex abuse were hidden in the crypt.

They also removed a computer and files from the home of a former cardinal. The Vatican subsequently expressed its “deep shock” and indignation over the searches.

The searches were sparked in April after Bishop Roger Vangheluwe admitted molesting a boy, leading to hundreds of allegations of sex abuse being made against clergy in Belgium. Police have been looking for any documents which could prove if the allegations are true.

In August, the Catholic Church in Belgium admitted that a cardinal attempted to cover up the abuse which led to Vangheluwe’s resignation in April. Cardinal Godfried Danneels told the victim not to go public on his abuse until the bishop had retired. The cardinal retired in January.

Today, the appeals court in Brussels said the raids were disproportionate and that all seized documents must be returned. Belgium’s Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck insists that normal procedures were followed throughout the inquiry.

No charges have yet been brought.